Machine for making wire clips



March 22, 1932. H. E. FRENETTE MACHINE FOR MAKING WIRE CLIPS Filed March 8, 1930 s Sheets-Sheet 1 JTLUerdF-r: Harry Efienefia March 22, 1932. FRENETTE 1,850,666

MACHINE FOR MAKING WIRE CLIPS Filed March 8, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 VITLUQZTWT'I any E Fenetza y @gs March 22, 19 32. FRENETTE 1,850,666

MACHINE FOR MAKING. WIRE' CLIPS Filed March 8, 19:50 I s Sheets-Sheet s Harry E Eenette March 22, 1932.- H. E. FRENETTE 1,850,655

MACHINE FOR MAKING WIRE CLIPS Filed March 8, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Harry E .Fvenetfe March 22, 1932.

H. E. 'FRENETTE MACHINE FOR MAKING WIRE CLIPS Filed March 8. 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Imam?- Harry. EEK/nette- Patented Mar. 22,- 1932 :1 t r 1,850,666}

. E? ppm- HARRY'E. FRENETTfiOFDULUTI-I, MINNESOTA MACHINE FOR MAKING WIRE CLIPS Ap plication filed March 8, 1930. Serial No. 434,233.

The invention relates generally to the art Figure 'r" is a plan'view of a clip made by of making wire clips, and more particularthe machine. 1y to an improved machine for bending or Figure 8 is a side view of the same. u twisting wire or similar metal elements into Figure 9 is a side view looking towards the 5 desired shapes. left' of Figure 7. v Machines have heretofore been developed 7 Figure 10 is a front elevation of the clip' for bending'and twisting wires, such maas shown 'in'Figure 7. chines including what is commonly known as The-machine is supported upon a base 10, the four-slide .machine, having plungers or which in turn is supported from the floor by ii) slides reciprocating in relation :to the work any suitable legs not shown. Supported from ea from four different directions. In some, in the base 10 by legs 11 is a table 12. The horistances, however, such as in the manufaczontal wire straightening rolls 13 and the ture of post-attachingclips having a twisted vertical wire straightening rolls 14: are car- V end'portion, it is impossible to make this twist ried on a laterally extending bracket 15; The 1:) with such type of machines. Wire feeding mechanism comprises a jaw-l6, The formation of post attaching clips is which is carried by an arm 17 rotated about frequently accomplished by forming loops the pivot18. This jaw grips the wire against on the ends of the body portion thereof in the backing plate 19., The arm 17 is limited two or three places at angles to each other in movement by adjustable stud 20 and is 20 from a single strip of wire. The wire is givdrawn away from the stud by the spring 21. en a series of successive bending operations The cam plunger'22 is housed within a bearby forming tools or pusher members acting ing 23carried upon a block 24. The plunger upon-the piece of wire while held in a single 22 is conected to a link 25 which in turn has form, so that when the successive operations connection toa bell crank lever 26. The bell have been performed, a predetermined form crank lever 26, operated by any suitable form ofclip ismade, in a single machine and withof mechanism, causes the block24e to have; out the necessity of transferring the device reciprocating movements upon a slide 27. from one set of dies to'another. Upon'movement of the plunger 22 .to its fori The present invention. provides improved ward direction, the jaw 16 will grip the Wire h means and ways of formingsuch clips and against the backing plate 19 and cause these performing similarwire twisting and bendwire to-be fed to the machine as the block 24 ing operations. I is simultaneously moved in its forward di- In the drawings, which illustrate an emrection. bodiment of the device and wherein like ref-v The main drive shaft 28'is driven through '2 erence characters are used to designate like 7 a pulley 29 and power is transmitted from the 85 parts- I shaft 28 to the cross shaft '30by means of a Figure 1 is a plan view of the machinecongear meshing with a' gear '31. The shaft 30 structed in accordance with the present incarries a bevel gear 32 meshing with a bevel vention. gear 33 on shaft 34. The shaft 30 at its other :a Figure 2 is a vertical section taken along end ie b l gear 35 hi ith a 90 line 22 of Figure 1. bevel gear 36 on shaft37. In like manner Figure 3 is a vertical section taken along the shaft 3'7 at its other end carries abevel line 33 of Figure 1. gear 38 meshing with a bevel gear'39 on shaft 7 Figure 4 is a vertical section taken along 40. It is thus seen that the base 10 is proline 4 -4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is ahorizontal section taken on an four sides. c enlarged scale showing the stationary die and The shaft 40 carries a cam 41 upon which forming die in operative position. 7 rides a cam roller 42, carried by one end of a Figure 6 s a fragmentary sectionon enrocker arm 43. The other end of the rocker vided with rotating shafts upon all of its ,95

. larged scale showing one of the forming tools. armcarries a gripper 44 adapted to grip and hold in set position the wire at those intervals when the cam 41 engages the roller 42 to cause the arm to rock.

For cutting the wire into the various len ths as desired, the shaft is provided wit a cam 45, which has engagement against a roller 42 for forcing inward a cutter slide 47' against the action of spring 48. Inward movement of slide 47 functions to sever the wire after the desired length has been fed into the machine by the feeding'mechanism described.

Before proceeding with an explanation of the various forming tools, their nature and operation can best be understood by reference to Figures 7 and 10, inclusive, which discloses the formation of the clip made by the machine. The clip comprises a body portion 50 having on its right hand side, as viewed in Figure 7, a loop 51. On the other side of the body portion is formed a large loop 52 which depends from the body portion and which loop is also provided with a second loop 53 at substantially right angles thereto.

The mechanism for forming the body portion of the clip comprises a stationary die 54, Figure 3, securely held in position in the table 12 by means of a holding plate 55 and a forming die 56 adapted to have contacting engagement against the stationary die 54.

The forming die 56 is secured to a slide 57 which is provided with a roller 58. Also operatively associated with the forming die is a holding member 59 which serves to securely hold the wire in place upon the stationary die 54. The holding member is also provided with a roller 60. For operating the forming die 56 as well as the holding member 59 the shaft 40 is provided with a cam 61, which is formed with a cam race 62 and a cam surface 63. As the roller 58 has engagement within the cam race 62, the slide 57 is given its required reciprocating movements while the holding member 59 is actuated by engagement of the cam surface 63 with the roller 60. For purposes to be presentl described, the forming die 56, as shown in igure 5, is provided with a pin 64 which hasfrictional sliding movement therein and upon rearward movement of theforming die is adapted to be engaged by a stop 65.

For forming the depending ends on the body portion 50 of the wire clip prior to the formation of the loops, the table 12 is provided with a vertical reciprocating slide 66, Figure 3, having secured to its lower end a plate 67 upon which is journaled a plurality of rollers 68. The upper end of the slide 66 is pivotally secured to a link 69 having engagement with one end of a rocker arm 70. The rocker arm is adjustably pivoted to the table 12 at 71 and is adapted to have the roller 72 at its other end engaged within cam race 73 provided in the cam 7 4, mounted on the horizontal shaft 30. The cam race 73 is of such formation as to give movements to the rocker arm so as to cause vertical reciprocating movement of the slide 66.

The second operation upon the clip is a formation of the loop portion 52. This is formed by a forming tool 75, Figure 2, having pivotal engagement at 76 with a block 77. The forming tool is adapted to ride within a groove 78 provided in the lower end of the stationary die 54, while the block 77 is adjustably secured upon a slide 79. For actuating the slide a roller 80 has engagement within thecam race 81 provided in the cam 82, which in turn is mounted upon shaft 34. By forward reciprocating movement being imparted tothe slide 79 and thus the block 77 secured thereto, the forming tool 75 will be given a forward and upward movement by reason of the cam surface 83 formed on its lower side, which is adapted to have engagement against a pin or suitable member provided for the purpose in the groove 78.

For the formation of the right angle loop 53, several operations are required, one of which is a provision of locating a forming pin in proper position for bending the wire thereon. The forming pin 84, Figures 1 and 5, is secured to a block 85 which in turn is mounted upon a reciprocating slide 86. For actuating the slide the same is provided with a roller 87 on its outer end having engagement within a cam race 88 provided in the cgm 89, which in turn is mounted upon shaft 3 In connection with the forming pin 84, a forming tool 90 is employed, as shown in Figure 4. The forming tool is Pl"Ot6(l at 91 to a slide 92 adapted to be actuated by reason of a horizontal rod 93. The rod 93 is pivoted to the upper end of an arm 94, which arm in turn has pivotal engagement at 95 to a block 96 securely mounted on the base 10. The cam 97 having the cam race 98 therein serves to actuate the arm 94, as the slide 99 has the roller 100 operating within the cam race 98 and is in turn pivoted to the arm 94 at 101. The movements thus imparted to the rod 93 will cause the forming tool 90 to have a forward movement whereupon the upper portion of the tool will engage the roller 102 pivoted to a bracket 103, secured to the table 12. As the forming tool 90 was itself pivoted at 91, its engagement with the roller 102 will cause a quick downward movement to be imparted to the forming tool, which movement is for the purpose of bending the wire around the forming pin 84 to substantially complete the formation of the loop 53.

By reference to Figures 9 and 10 it will be noted that the loop 51 on one side of the clip is open, while the loop 53 is substantially closed against a portion of the loop 52. The mechanism for performing this last operation comprises a slide 105, Figure 3, provided.

with roller 106 operating within a cam race 107 provided in the cam 108, which in: turn is mounted upon the shaft 30. The slide 105 has adjustablly secured to it a block 110 -on which are pivotally mounted. at either side thereof, forming tools 111 and 112 respectively'. The tool 111 pivoted to. the block at 113,.serves tobend the right hand. end of the clip as shown in Figure 7 into the loop designated 51.

The forming tool 112 is pivoted to the blOckllO at 11 1 and has a V formation 115 provided on its outer end for bending the wire as described. It is necessary for this particular bending purpose to give the end 115 of the forming tool a movement in a downward directionas it is caused to move in a forward direction, thus forming the closed end of the loop 53. For this purpose a profile plate 116 is provided secured to the base 10, and. havinga particular formation of cam slot 117 therein. A roller 118 secured to the forming tool 112 is adapted to ride within thiscam slot thus giving the rear end of the forming tool an upward movement to cause the downwardmovement of the V formation 115.

In the use of the apparatus, wire isfed from any suitable Wire holder through the straightening rollers 13 and 14 and through thefeeding mechanism' until its end abuts the cutting slide 47.. When the parts assume the proper'position under power supplied through the power sha-ft; and several counter shafts described, the wire will be positively gripped by the 16 and fed'forward past the stationarydie 5 1 by the forwardreciprocating movement of the block'2 l' upon theslide27 This forward movement of the'block2e is suflicient to feed the desired length of wire to form llllQ'CllPl Just prior to the rearward movement of block 24 the gripper 4 1 is actuated which servesto hold the wire in fed position.

The next operation of the machineis accomplished by the holding member 59, Fig ure 3, which holds the wire in engagement against the stationary die 54 by'reasonof the cam surface 63engaging a roller 60. Substantially simultaneous with engagement of the holding arm 59 with the wire, the cutter slide 47 is actuated by the cam 45 tojsever the wire into the length desired. Immediatelysubsequentto this operation the formingvdie 56 is actuated through engagement of the'roll'er 58 with the cam race 62.

illiS movement is such as to force the forming die in a forward direction towards the st;

The next operation is to bend these endsof the wire in adownward direction which is accomplished by the verticalreciprocating:

slide-66- through means of the rollers68. With both ends of the wire. nowbent at substantially right angles .to the body portion, the next operation is accomplished. through the forming tool 7 5. This tool is actuated by'engagement of the roller '80, Figure 2,. with the cam race 81 which impartstorita.

forward movement, while by reason of the formation 83 on the bottom portion'of the forming tool, it is caused to. have anaupward movement. The resultant of these two movements is such that the. formingtool bends the left hand end of the clip, as shown in. Figure 7, intopthe .loop 52. The mechanism.

serving asv the forming'pin" around which the loop 52 :is formed comprisesthepin 64: lo-

cated in the forming: die '56, Figure 5 and is adapted to have frictionalsliding engagement therein; It is necessary; that this pin be forcedin a direction so that its depending end is flush with the surface of the forming.

die 56 since at the completion of all the bending operations, it is desirable to: havethe clip drop from the machine. The pin 64', however, is again forced into its forward position, since upon the rearward movement of the forming die-the pin engages-against its stop 65.

The next operations to formthe loop 53 are substantially simultaneous and comprise actuation of the rod 93, Figure 4, by reason of" the roller running in the cam race 98.

The forward movement thus imparted to the the forward and downward movement of the forming tool 90 serves to bend around'thepin the wire, forming substantially thereby the loop The last operations upon the clip are performed by the forming tools 111 a11d112,

which tools are pivotally secured to the block 110. Byactuation of the roller 106' within the cam race 107 the tool 111 isgiven a forward movement to form the loop 51. The tool 112 is likewise given ,aforward movement and simultaneously therewith a downward movement by reason of the cam slot 117' within which the. roller 118 is adapted to slide- This forward and downward move ment of the forming tool 112 servesto complete the formation of the loop 53, causing it to close against a portionof the wire of loop' 52 and also serves to drive inwardly the pin 64. From the beginning of the formation of the clip I by bending same around stationary I die 54, the holding member 59 remains in en gagement with the wire serving to hold it against stationary die. Immediately upon a completion of the last operation as described,

the holding member is withdrawn and simultaneous with this movement the forming die 56 is likewise withdrawn. The cam races on the various cams as described are such formation that they also serve to withdraw the forming tools which they actuate so that the cli is free to drop from machine.

ile the machine has been shown and described "as forming one particular form of wire clip, it is obviously capable of a wide range of wire twisting and bending opera-v tions. Any suitable variations in the contour of the fixed and movable die and likewise the forming tools may be made to accommodate it to the desired use. It is therefore contemplated that such changes and modifications will come within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Iclaim: 1. In a metal working machine, a fixed die, a holding member, for holding a strip of wire on said fixed die, a reciprocating die for bending said wire on the fixed die while so held, a vertical reciprocating member for bending the ends of said wire in a downward direction, and forming tools adapted to be actuate in sequence for forming loops on the bent ends of said wire.

2. In a metal working machine, a fixed die, a holding member cooperating therewith, a reciprocating die for bending a piece of wire on said fixed die while held by said member, a vertical reciprocating member for bending downward the ends of said wire, and other reciprocating means for forming the bent ends into loops.

3. In a wire bending machine, a fixed die, means for bending a piece of wire around the die, vertical reciprocating means for bending downward projecting ends of said wire, a plurality of forming pins, and forming tools cooperatin with said pins for bending the ends of said wire thereon to form loops 4. In a wire bending machine, a fixed die,

means for bending a piece of wire around the die, vertical reciprocating means for bending downward projecting ends of saidwire, forming pins, forming tools cooperating with said pins for bending one end of said wire thereon to form loops, and other means for forminga single loop on the other end of said wire.

'5. In a wire bending machine, a fixed die, a holding member, means for reciprocating said member towards and away from said die, a forming die, other means for reciprocating said forming die towards and away from said fixed die, forming pins, and forming tools cooperating therewith for the purposes described.

i 6. In a wire bending machine, a fixed die,

a holding member, a reciprocating die, means for resenting said member and die to said fixed die substantially simultaneously, a vertical reciprocating member for operation upon a piece of wire subsequent to the operation performed by the forming die, a plurality of reciprocating slides, certain of said slides presenting into position in relation to the fixed die a forming pin, and other of said slides presenting into position forming tools.

7. In a wire bending machine, a fixed die, a holding member, a reciprocating die, means for presenting said member and die to said fixed die substantially simultaneously, a vertical reciprocating member for operation upon a piece of wire subsequent to the operation performed by the forming die, a plurality of reciprocating slides, a forming pin mounted on one of said slides, forming tools mounted on the other of said slides, and cam means for reciprocating said slides in sequence.

8. In a wire bending machine, dies for giving the initial bend, means movable at right angles thereto to:' bending the ends of the material at right angles to the initial bend, reciprocating means for presenting forming pins into position, and forming tools cooperating with said pins for forming loops on the right angle portions.

9. In a. wire bending machine, dies for giving theinitial bend, means movable at right angles thereto for bending the ends of the material at right angles to the initial bend, forming pins, means presenting said pins into position with one of said right angle portions, forming tools cooperating with said pins for bending said right angle portion into a plurality of loops, and another forming tool for bending the other right angle portion into an open loop.

10. In a wire bending machine, dies for glving the initial bend, means movable at right angles thereto for bending the ends of the wire at right angles to the initial bend comprising a vertically reciprocating slide with rollers on the slide for engaging the wire, a plurality of horizontally reciprocating slides presenting forming pins in position, and forming tools adapted to be operated in sequence for bending the wire around said pins to form loops.

11. In a wire bending machine, dies for giving the initial bend, means movable at right angles thereto for bending the ends of the wire at right angles to the initial bend comprising a vertically reciprocating slide with rollers on the slide for engaging the wire, a plurality of horizontally reciprocating slides presenting forming pins in position, other slides having reciprocating movement for actuating forming tools. said tools coopcrating with the pins for forming a plurality of loops on one of the right angled portions of said wire.

12. In a Wire bending machine. dies for means for bending a piece of wire around the giving the initial bend, means movable at right angles thereto for bending the ends of the wire at right angles tothe initial bend comprising a vertically reciprocating slide with rollers on the slide for engagingthe Wire, a plurality of horizontally reciprocating slides presenting forming pins in position, other slides having reciprocating ,move ment for actuating formingtools, a profile plate associated with one of the tools to cause the same tohave a forward and downward movement, said tools cooperating with the pins for forming a plurality of loops at substantially right angles to each. other.

13. In a wire bending machine, a fixed die,

means for bending a piece of wire around the die, vertical reciprocating means for bending downward projecting ends of said wire, a plurality of forming pins,'a plurality of reciprocating slides, forming tools certain of which are pivoted to one of said slides, and

means cooperating therewith for giving to said pivoted tools a forward and downward movement, whereby loops are formed on the projecting ends of the Wire.

14. In a wire bending machine, a fixed die,

die, vertical reciprocating means for bending downward projecting ends of said Wire, a plurality of forming pins, a plurality of re: ciprocating slides, certain of said slides actuating forming pins, other of said slides actuating forming tools,said tools and pins cooperating to form a plurality of loops on one projecting end, and a single loop on the other end of the wire.

Signed at Duluth, Minnesota, this 24 day of February, 1930.

HARRY E. FRENETTE. 

